‘Today Poles abroad are Poland’s Ambassadors, standing guard of the country’s good name. We very much look forward to the continued commitment to cooperation in education, science, culture, and the organisation of economic events’ – Family News Service was told by the Representative for the Polish Diaspora of the President of the Catholic University of Lublin and head of the Centre for Research on Organisations of the Polish Diaspora Abroad Prof. Jacek Gołębiowski. May 2nd is celebrated in Poland as the Day of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad and the Flag Day.
According to Prof. Gołębiowski, ‘The human capital of the Republic of Poland in conjunction with the potential of the Polish Diaspora is bound to contribute to success on many fields. We only need to take the effort to tap into this potential wisely’.
Professor recalled that ‘the Polish Diaspora supported the struggle of the Polish nation for an independent homeland and preserved the legacy of Poland’s Second Republic along with the insignia of the Polish President. Without the help of the Polish community, it would have been difficult for us to survive both world wars and the time of communist slavery’. Today, the tasks of the Polish community have changed. Poles at home also support compatriots outside their homeland. The Polish Diaspora 'no longer has to support their compatriots at home in their struggle for freedom. Today, economically robust Poland supports Polish education and many initiatives organised abroad’.
Since 2002, by a decision of the Polish Sejm, May 2nd has been celebrated as the Day of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad. 'It is a unique holiday uniting the Polish community and Poles abroad. It aims to make the Polish nation aware of the greatness of the Polish Diaspora, its territorial scope, and its importance in the past and present of Polish affairs’, observed Prof. Jacek Gołębiowski.
Photo: Sr. Amata J. Nowaszewska CSFN
At present, the largest Polish communities are located in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. According to the Representative for the Polish Diaspora of the President of the Catholic University of Lublin, Poland still has a lot to do in terms of cooperation with Poles abroad. 'In every country with a strong presence of the Polish ethnic group there should be events and activities promoting Poland and the contribution of Poles to the development of the countries of settlement’, urged Prof. Jacek Gołębiowski and added that as Poles 'we have reasons to be proud as a modern well-developed European country with great natural and cultural treasures. We have the potential for further development’. In his opinion, the celebration of the Polish Diaspora 'should be an opportunity for us to strengthen our cooperation and consider new initiatives’.
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is carrying out a number of projects in collaboration with the Polish Diaspora. The University is host to the Centre for the Polish Diaspora. ‘One of the key assumptions behind the creation of this centre was work benefitting Poles abroad as a token of gratitude for the material and spiritual aid the University has received for many years from the compatriots living outside our nation’s borders’, Family News Service was told by Prof. Janusz Bień, head of the University’s Department of Romance Linguistics and director of the Centre for the Polish Diaspora.
One of the Centre’s flagship initiatives is the Study Project for the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, headed by Dr Wojciech Wciseł, the Centre’s deputy director. ‘We boast an extensive offer of courses in many scientific disciplines, dedicated to the Polish Diaspora and Poles living abroad, as well as people related to Poland’, stressed Prof. Janusz Bień. During the three editions so far, the Centre has held 30 courses attended by 1,500 participants from more than 30 countries around the world. Information about the 4th edition is available at polonia.kul.pl and on social media.